3 years later...
[Verni]
The environment seems blurry and surreal, but I can make sense out of it. This is the core dungeon back before I conquered it. No, it probably goes even a long way back in time.
I'm in an oddly designed wooden home that the typical warlock lives in. And it looks like I'm not Verni but someone else. I'm living alone and devoted my time to research about immortality and necromancy.
Suddenly, an earthquake occurs, causing me to check it outside by flying through the window. I can already tell someone dangerous has breached this dungeon.
Right before my eyes, there are a dozen figures. Their forms are ambiguous, as though they are just black shadows. But they are real.
I chide the leader who has a terrifying presence.
"Fagrusil! What are you doing here in my domain?!"
It looks like the warriors behind him are called the Tempest of the Underworld. For some reason, I know.
He simply answers with some hint of threat, "Sagus, you have grown too powerful for a human. I can't let that happen."
"You should know that even if I became an Overlord. I still won't be able to reach the heights of the demons."
"I'm not sure about that. I mean, I can't believe you made something like this by combining hundreds dungeons together. I don't like interfering with your hobby but I still owe someone." He shows a clever wide smile.
"As I thought, this is Jeromes plan isnt it?!"
"Hahaha! Who knows, but Sagus, I will have to kill you here and seal this dungeon for all eternity!"
And right before me, as I plunge into deep darkness his eyes coldly pierce at me.
"Curse you Fagrusil!" The voice comes out from my mouth.
As soon as despair takes over me, I quickly wake up.
I end up waking up from my bed made of vines.
While sweating and gasping, I sigh in relief knowing it was a bad dream.
Oh yeah.
My name is Verni Millas, almost 4 years has passed after we got transported into another world. In that those year, too many things happened.
I got abandoned by my classmates; I met some friends and fought otherwordly monsters which could eradicate nations back on earth.
What I saw was Sagus' dream. I remember he got sealed by the demonlord. I have felt what Sagus felt back then. It was terrifying but it felt so real.
So that person, Fagrusil must be the demon lord, huh? I don't know the details in that dream since his memories were pretty vague.
I wonder if I will encounter him someday. I hope not.
About 3 years has passed after I conquered the dungeon. And regarding the [General Monsters], it seems my clones eradicated all of them, well--- mostly.
However, there was a major concern from the dungeon.
[Note: The absence of the General Monster will cause the degradation of Dungeon Domain. ]
The fiona and flora of each dungeon these past months were steadily declining. The monsters were not respawning and the lands have turned barren.
I sigh.
At first, I didn't really care about this dungeon's well being but seeing I might lose the title of Eastern Overlord, it's now a second priority.
Looking over the window of my stone tower which sits atop the central region of the vast land of the Dungeon Core Domain, I can see a city of my clones.
The clones were tasked to transport raw materials such as ore and monster drops from the dungeon domains to the core.
While some clones are on an expedition across several domains. To explore some materials or treasure. There were a lot of domains in this dungeon after all.
Due to my high level title as a clone system user, my clones have a fraction of my intelligence and they can communicate efficiently, although they cannot make an independent decision.
[Name: Verni Millas
System Title: Magnificent Cloner
--------------------
Upperworldly Titles: Infitius
--------------------
Worldly Titles: Great Chief Assister, Mythical Monster General Slayer, Tundra Expert, Legendary Adventurer...
-----------------------
Level: 530
Health Points: 50,600,000/50,600,000
Mana Points: 7,800,000/7,800,000
-----------------------
Strength: 7500 (Max)
Agility: 6500 (Max)
Defense: 6500 (Max)
Stamina: 6500 (Max)
Wisdom: 2458
Mind: 4500 (Max)
Tolerance: 3460 ]
I have levelled up a lot, huh? Well, it comes to the cost of slaying my own monsters from my dungeon. I got a title out of it. [Merciless Ruler]
Merciless Ruler, huh?
I'm pretty brutal, aren't I? Though it was necessary to acquire the materials. I still have a hard time looking for it despite the number of the clones that I can produce.
Now, for my first priority.
Ren, Vermil, at any cost, I'm gonna revive you all!
And I'm very close.
Looking over the window are the city of my clones. The stone houses look plain-- well, what do you expect? I have no talent in architecture or masonry.
I spend most of my time on research.
From time to time you can hear some explosions going off in the clone city. Well, those failed experiments are kinda expected. There are ten trials conducted by my clones at the same time so research becomes faster.
Creating the Golden Potion without a one vital ingredient is one in a million.
As expected of a legendary potion, acquiring one won't be easy. I tried creating it after we are missing one vital ingredient.
From behind me, I can feel a presence approaching. It seems to be flowey. He can teleport from the ground and appear anywhere in the dungeon. He has been with me these past 3 years. He is sentient sunflower monster who oversees a certain mythical domain.
Honestly, his presence is annoying but it's better than being alone.
"Flowey, if you're here to complain to me regarding the mining in your domain, quit it."
Flowey looks worried as if there is a bigger problem at hand. He would usually complain about how I treat this dungeon but he won't look troubled at this extent.
"Not that my lord, it looks like she is here!"
"Who's here?" I squint my eyes as it gets my attention.
Flowey told the story of a certain race from the Galkin Empire. Sagus, the previous eastern overlord made a deal with some higher being.
Flowey wasn't sure of the details but Sagus acquired a higher life form and kept her sealed in the dungeon. Obviously, in the mundane plane in which majority of humans and some races live, her strength will easily dominate.
In ancient times, she used to annihilate countries as if it was nothing. She was problematic that even Sagus decided to seal her in her dungeon domain.
Seal and a girl?
It can't be? At that time, I freed a girl from a cage. Was it her?
Oh man, it was my fault?
"Right now, she is annihilating the monsters in Malseria." Flowey reports.
Regardless, she sounds like a bad news that I might have to eliminate her but for now, I will try to talk to her.
I have some clones nearby that domain. I guess I'll send some to check her out. That might be faster than going there personally. I mean the domains are crazy huge. Some domains can span to be as large as a country.
For now, I will leave my body here.
Casting [Skill combiner] with [Cursed Flames] and [Wind Barrier], a moving gust is created around me, then dark fierce flames are evoked along with i. Once I leave my body here, the barrier will protect my body in case someone or something gets here.
Flowey winces out of fear seeing the over the top magic I cast, "my lord, is that really necessary?"
Remembering that certain event, it is necessary. When I left my body on a field on some domain, I forgot I was using clone take over. When I returned, a monster's dump was found on my body.
That gave me a trauma.
Besides, I haven't explored this dungeon fully. There might be threats lurking around such as that girl.
Well then, I have to use [Clone TakeOver]!
Just like that I travelled several kilometers in blink of an eye. The clones I sent are flying to the Malseria domain.
The infinitium robe I acquired from Sagus granted me the ability of flight.
Regardless, this domain was nostalgic. It used to be a domain filled with magneous rocks and hot lava. We had a hard time against Kronous back then.
However, right now, due to the absence of the General Monsters the ground has cooled to below freezing point.
The clones that I occupy only has 15% of my true strength. I may not be able to win against her with this body, but my goal isn't to win but to gather information first.
There seems to be a ruckus on the distance. It might be her. The [Grey Salamander and the [Fiery Serpent] were like nothing to her. They instantly got defeated effortlessly.
Shes definitely a very high level.
I have to play safe.
For now, I will hide the remaining clones with me and approach her as a single person.
Eventually, we meet on the air and our eyes came into contact. For a second I got scared but due to my titles, my fearlessness and courage were increased. I'm not the cowardly Verni from before.
Her eyes scroll past me. She lift a smile. I can tell her looks are dangerous despite being a beautiful woman. She wears a dark gown with her petite body, a wide devillish wings are found on her back.
"It has been such a long time since I have talked to someone. Especially, that Sagus sealed me for eternity."
As I look at her, I was silent with my thoughts.
No doubt about it. When I was fighting Sagus, she was the one that I freed.
Well then, what should I do with her?
"Hey, say something. It's quite rude you are left me hanging."
"Uh, sorry about that. It has been so long that I have talked to someone who's not a flower. My name is Verni Millas, just an ordinary high school student. You could say I watch over this place."
A lot of years has passed that I may have graduated if I didn't get transported.
"Highscho- what? Regardless, to introduce myself my name is Levia, you remember we had a deal right?"
...
"Huh? What deal?"
All I can remember is that I freed her. No more than that.
"I can't believe you!" Levia says in frustration. She sighs. "Well, the deal is off. So let's make another deal. One thing is undeniable. You defeated Sagus and that speaks about your strength. How about it? I'll be your servant but on three conditions."
That seems to be a lot of conditions but assessing her it might be worth it to listen to her.
"Name it."
"One, help me find my friend Melanie. She is often called as the Southern Overlord in the mundane plane. If things go well she might become a valuable ally."
There seems to be more overlord besides me in this world. Well, I just realized I was named after East, so there must be one from North, West and South right? And an ally, huh? Not a bad offer.
"Second, I need your strength to protect me from someone." She speaks with some weight in her tone.
From someone? I guess, I'll need more details about that later.
"Third, just a test. I want to ensure that you winning against Sagus wasn't from luck."
"Huh? Battle?"
She nods. "The Galkin race prioritizes strength more than anything. One can only be respected with strength. So if you want me to serve you, you have to earn it."
Did she just say she is a Galkin? A memory springs up in my mind. I open up the system and look for the missing key ingredient for the Golden potion.
As I remember...
[ Output: Golden Potion (1/1)
Input:
.....
Farnik Roots (45/45)
Val Saliva (20/20)
Galkin Claw (0/10)
.....]
I rise a cocky smile.
"I agree but on three conditions as well."
"That's fair."
Looks like my ingredient hunting will end here. I finally found the last ingredient.
"One I need your claws, two, become my assistant and third...."
I gulp as I haven't thought about it. I figured I would just throw the same number of conditions. But anyways---
I scratch my head as I look away from embarassment. "Then, comfort me when I'm sad."
She gazes at me confused in the last second, then burst a chuckle while covering her lips.
"Hey!" I lash out from embarassment.
Ugh, I shouldn't have said that, damn it.
She catches her breath as she tries to calm down from laughter. "I didn't expect that. I guess even the most powerful beings can be lonely, huh? Well then, it's a small price to pay."
Well, I said all that crap but I can't even scan her stats.
[Name: Levia
Stat Screen: Blocked]
Her mind stats are probably higher than of my clones which is why I can't assess her. It only means one thing, this body is screwed if we were to engage in combat. If he defeats me here even as a clone it will leave a bad first impression.
But I'm Verni, I'll be able to defeat her despite not having the upperhand!